ST. IGNATIUS – The Mission Bulldogs lost a coaching icon last week. Coach Les Rice, 61, died after a long battle with lung cancer on Monday, Feb. 11.
“I can think about him and cry and smile at the same t...

It was a go-to-the-store for laundry detergent and come home with fabric softener kind of day. But hey, everyone has bad days. Not one of us has a corner on that market.
And bad days are in the eye of the beholder. I...

It took a Lake County jury less than three hours of deliberations before finding a Lakeside man guilty of four of five felony charges. Dustin Hayes Knox, 42, was accused of pouring gasoline on a woman after breaking into her Lake Vista Court home on July 5, 2018.
The trial began Monda...

POLSON – The bar at 18 Main Street in downtown Polson, which for several decades was known as the Wolf Den and more recently was the Vine and Tap, now has a new name and owners.
Dusty and Mandy Kisler purc...

Courts

It took a Lake County jury less than three hours of deliberations before finding a Lakeside man guilty of four of five felony charges. Dustin Hayes Knox, 42, was accused of pouring gasoline on a woman after breaking into her Lake Vista Court home on July 5, 2018.
The trial began Monday, Feb. 4, and wrapped up just before 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Knox was found guilty of assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and solicitation of tampering with witnesses or informants. He was found not guilty of robbery.
According to court records, the woman awoke to Knox standing over her holding a lighter and demanding money or he would set her on fire. He also said he w...

An Elmo man, Peter James Auld, 31, was committed at District Court in Polson Jan. 23 to the state Department of Corrections for three years with one year suspended on an attempted robbery charge.
The sentence, handed down by Judge James Manley, followed the recommendation of a plea agreement reached...

Lake County Justice of the Peace Randal Owens passed judgment on the following cases Nov. 30- Jan. 1:
Deo Juavante Alexander , 28, pleaded not guilty to partner or family member assault, causing bodily injury to partner or family member, first offense. He was found guilty and in a plea agreement was fine...

A woman accused of setting fires to the U. S. Post Office in Big Arm and other public facilities in Montana has been denied a bond reduction.
Jennifer Len Alice Cassidy, 25, appeared before District Judge Deborah “Kim” Christopher in Polson for two counts of felony arson on Jan. 10. The hearin...

A Ronan man who was initially charged with sexual assault is receiving a recommended sentence to Montana State Prison for 20 years on the amended charge of aggravated assault. Keith Lee Michel Jr., 28, entered into a plea agreement during an appearance at District Court in Polson on Jan. 2. Lake County Attor...

A former Polson property manager, Douglas Dennis Lichte, 42, pleaded guilty at District Court in Polson on Jan. 3 to 16 felony and three misdemeanor charges of theft, according to charging documents.
The plea came without the benefit of a plea agreement, meaning Lichte will be at the mercy of the judge at...

Deborah “Kim” Christopher was sworn in by Mike McGrath, Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court, for her fourth term as State District Court Judge for the 20th Judicial District, Lake and Sanders counties on Jan. 2 in Helena. The ceremony was held in Helena at the Montana Supreme Court. ...

A Former Wolf Point man who now resides in St. Ignatius has entered into a plea agreement convicting him of felony criminal endangerment. Chris Allen Myrick, 36, pleaded guilty to the charge during a change of plea hearing at District Court in Polson Dec. 20.
According to court records, on Aug. 31, multip...

A former Polson property manager who skipped town with hundreds of thousands of dollars in security deposits is now wanted for skipping court.
District Judge Deborah Christopher issued a warrant in the amount of $150,000 for the arrest of Douglas Dennis Lichte, 42.
The warrant was issued after he faile...

Peter James Auld, 31, of Elmo entered a plea agreement on Dec. 12 before District Judge James Manley that calls for him to be committed to the State Department of Corrections for six years with four years suspended for attempted robbery.
According to court records, a Polson woman looked out her home...